THE
SYNAGOGUE IN NISH
UNDER STATE PROTECTION SINCE 1986 WAS REFURBISHED IN 2003

It
is believed that the first synagogue or the house of prayer in Nish
was established in 1695, the same year to which written records of the
Jewish Community date back.

In
the same year, Rahamim Naftali Gedalja, a sagacious and energetic man, who
was credited by significantly contributing to the religious, spiritual and
cultural life of the tiny Jewish community in Nish,
had been appointed to the Rabbinate of Nish.
It is believed that he had his Yeshiva, a school for Talmudic studies,
where generations of religious Jewish youth were subjected to religious
upbringing. He held his post for sixteen years and is believed to have
been buried at the Jewish cemetery
of Nish.

The
first synagogue was built and consecrated in 1801 during the rabbinate of
the already mentioned rabbi.

During
the Turkish era the Jewish part of the town occupied the stretch between
the two wooden bridges across the River Nishava. The Turkish authorities
who had approved that this district be established called it Chivutana
– the Jewish settlement. It had its yeshiva, synagogue, rebbi’s home,
a bath for religious worship and a number of single level homes. The
entire Jewish district burned down in the great fire that gushed through
it on August 15, 1879.

At
the end of 19th century the large synagogue ''El Kal Grande''
and the small synagogue ''El Kal Chiko'' are known to have existed on David
Street.
It was also established that there were eleven scrolls of talmud torahs,
nine in the large temple and two in the small one. At the beginning of the
20th century one of the torahs was announced as unfit for use.

After
the end of WWI it was decided to build a new synagogue because the old one
was almost falling in. However in the meantime the old temple was somewhat
refurbished and it served its purpose for many more years.

In
April of 1924 the construction of the new synagogue was initiated. Its
cornerstone was festively laid on May 18,1924. However, the explosion of a
German bomb – a remnant from the time of war interrupted the building.
The Jewish inhabitants of Nish
financed the construction works of the synagogue situated at 2
David Street
in the heart of the Jewish religious district. People think that Jasha
Albala from Belgrade
was the architect entrusted with this work, although some other people
hold that Milan
Kapetanovic and Victor Azriel both architects from Belgrade
had built it. The synagogue was spacious with an open gallery for women.
In spring of 1925 the synagogue was completed and only then the old
synagogue could be pulled down.

Rabbi
Abram Daniti states about the Jews of Nish,
''They have always been very pious and the temple and worship were their
primary concern. They would spend much time in yeshivas, where they read
religious books and listened to discourses which have helped them to
preserve a rare piousness until today.''

Above
the portal of the synagogue
and next to Magen David who stood there one could read,

''This
is God’s door – righteous come on in.''

Until
WWII the synagogue served its purpose. During the war Germans used it as
storage, while after the war it was not used at all. No one of Jews who
had lived there before had returned home. Until 1948, Mayo Mevorah did the
custodial work in the synagogue. After his departure to Israel
in 1948, the building was shut down.

In
1970, the Jewish Community was compelled to sell the building because it
would have been expropriated for not being used. On a certain condition
that same year the synagogue was sold to the NationalMuseum
of Nish.
The NationalMuseum
was to meet the following obligation: They promised to take good care of
the building, to use it exclusively for cultural purposes and to place a
memorial plate honoring Jews who had lived in the community and had never
returned to their homes.

Because
of its architectural and historical significance the building was put
under the protection of the state in 1986.

In
the fall of 2001, the renovation of the dilapidated synagogue has started.

The
work on the exterior of the building was finished in 2003. The continuance
of the interior reconstruction requires additional funds.